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The overview effect and nature-relatedness

Authors :
Niall McKeever
Annahita Nezami
Dimitrios Kourtis
Source :
Frontiers in Virtual Reality, Vol 5 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2024.

Abstract

Climate scientists increasingly agree that human behavior significantly contributes to global warming and biodiversity decline. Recent research emphasizes the importance of human-nature connectedness as a reliable predictor of psychological wellbeing and increased engagement in pro-environmental behavior. While evidence supports a positive correlation between human-nature connectedness and pro-environmental behavior, establishing causation remains elusive. Nevertheless, exploring this link is crucial, given its potential to enhance pro-environmental behavior. Armed with this understanding, stakeholders can design and implement successful sustainability interventions that promote wellbeing on individual and collective levels. One psychological phenomenon believed to have a strong effect on human-nature connectedness and pro-environmental behavior is “The Overview Effect,” a term used to describe the shift in awareness some astronauts experience when viewing Earth from outside its atmosphere. This pilot study explored whether a 180-degree virtual reality Overview Effect experience created by EarthscapeVR® influences human-nature connectedness and whether a correlation exists between participants’ average human-nature connectedness scores and openness to experience scores. 60 student participants took part in the study. The results showed significant increases on human-nature connectedness (p < 0.0021) in the experimental condition compared to the control group (p = 0.97), with no correlation (r = 0.137) between participants’ average human-nature connectedness scores and openness to experience scores. While these results are not conclusive and further research is necessary, the initial findings support translating the Overview Effect into virtual reality to promote human-nature connectedness in people.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
26734192
Volume :
5
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Virtual Reality
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.80928566e0ae444c96a0ba7c2c557565
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2024.1196312